The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty

Chapter 44 recounts the prosecution and defense’s closing arguments. Waters reiterated that Alex’s deceptive behavior went unchecked for so long that the first sign of threat during the boat case pushed Alex to an extreme act of self-preservation. Waters then stressed Alex’s motives and his deflective behavior during the investigation. He concluded by showing pictures of Maggie and Paul from their lives and from the crime scene, in order to highlight Alex’s brutality.

Judge Newman made the defense choose only one lawyer to give the closing speech. The less experienced Jim Griffin spoke, focusing on the incompleteness of the state’s case. Griffin played the kennel video one last time, claiming that it showed a loving relationship between Alex and his family. Griffin teared up, pressing the jury not to make Alex’s family tragedy worse.

During a bathroom break, Mark Tinsley gave advice to the prosecution. The prosecution received the last word, and John Meadors emphasized Alex’s manipulative behavior, especially when compared to the witnesses’ genuine emotions. Meadors expressed his disgust at the attack on law enforcement, and he requested that the jury finally hold Alex accountable.

Before deliberations, Judge Newman investigated rumors of jurors breaking the rules. One juror had publicly shared opinions about the case, and Judge Newman removed her. Her dismissal was a blow to the defense, as Harpootlian believed that she was sympathetic to Alex. Judge Newman appointed an alternate juror.

The jurors started their deliberation with a prayer, and Bauerlein describes the close relationships that the group developed during the trial. After their first inconclusive vote, the jurors revisited evidence and testimonies. The jurors considered the defense’s claims against SLED and determined that investigators did the best they could with the information they had at the time, given that they did not yet know about Alex’s other crimes. The jury spent a lot of time considering Alex’s testimony, and the more they deliberated, the closer they came to a consensus about his guilt.

The court clerk delivered the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict for Alex’s murder charges. Renee Beach, Anthony and Beverly Cook, and Tony Satterfield all watched the verdict reading from home. Blanca didn’t learn of the verdict until the next day. The bailiff handcuffed Alex and took him back to jail. The prosecution exalted the power of justice to reporters outside the courthouse, and the defense team refused to comment.

At the sentencing, Judge Newman spoke directly to Alex. He recalled Alex’s family history of upholding the law and shared his distaste for Alex’s manipulation of the justice system. Judge Newman sentenced Alex to life in prison, though many people thought he might recommend the death penalty. Phillip Beach attended the sentencing, seeing the guilty verdict as justice for his daughter. Mark Tinsley visited Judge Newman’s chambers to thank him, passing a weeping John Meadors on the way. Bauerlein describes Tinsley’s own outpouring of tears in the judge’s chambers. Tinsley felt responsible for Maggie and Paul’s deaths because he had put so much pressure on Alex. Judge Newman assured Tinsley that only Alex was to blame for the tragedy.

To describe Alex’s life after the trial, Bauerlein uses an analogy of a spider being taken from its web. Like the spider, Alex’s power diminished when he was no longer on his home turf. Bauerlein’s narrative jumps forward nine months to another sentencing, this time for Alex’s financial crimes. Judge Newman sentenced Alex to 27 years in prison without the possibility of appeal—a plea deal that his lawyers and the prosecution worked out. Investigators continued to pursue other cases, like the deaths of Stephen Smith and Gloria Satterfield, and Alex’s defense sought a new trial for the murders. Bauerlein describes the burst of celebrity given to the prosecution and the defense lawyers, and particularly to Judge Newman.

At the hearing, Waters reiterated his dedication to helping Hampton County rid itself of the Murdaughs’ influence. Alex’s victims read impact statements, and Mark Tinsley took the stand, criticizing Alex’s narcissism. Alex apologized to his victims and family, while also criticizing SLED. Bauerlein describes multiple negative reactions to Alex’s lengthy statement. Alex returned to McCormick Correctional Institution, where Bauerlein asserts that he continues to manipulate others in order to receive special treatment.